Page 138 of Please Save Me

“I’m not avoiding you,” he said softly, almost defensively. “I’ve been busy with trying to write songs, plus I’ve been painting Rosie’s room like you asked.”

“Thanks for painting her room… even if she’snotyours.” I picked my book up and opened it once more.

I was willing to forgive him for earlier if hejustfucked me, but no, Lucian couldn’t just take the easy way out.

“Mason, don’t be like that,” he pleaded, but I was done.

I kept my attention on the pages, refusing to look at myhusband. “Like what?Honest?”

I patiently waited for him to at least insult me. If Sophia had mouthed off to Lucian, he’d have called her a bitch, and while I preferred physical punishment, I could live with name calling.

Instead, he sighed and kissed my forehead before forcing me to sit up just long enough to slip pillows under my back.

“There,” he mused as he helped me resettle. “More comfortable?”

I looked up just long enough to glare. Was this more comfortable? Absolutely. But, I wasn’t telling him that.

“No,” I muttered, trying to sound as angry as possible.

Lucian’s silence told me more than his expression ever could. He didn’t like how I was acting, but I didn’t like his behavior either. His presence lingered for just long enough to make the lack of conversation awkward, and part of me debated giving him a less than genuine apology because Ireallydidn’t like arguing with my lovers. Especially Lucian and Cameron.

“I love you.” His voice was soft, almost pleading, and it was enough to make me look up from my book.

“I love you more,” I conceded.

“And, I hope you know I lovebothof you.” He walked over before lowering himself to kiss the swell of my stomach.

His gesture was sweet, but it felt like a consolation prize. And, while it helped take away the sting of my rejected advances, it didn’t erase how undesirable it made me feel.

He straightened up, weaving his fingers together and stretching. I tried to focus on my signature on his hip rather than the way his lean muscles twitched under his sea of dark tattoos.

“I’m getting some rest.” He yawned. “Whose bed are you planning on sleeping in tonight?”

“Sophia’s.” Her bed was the biggest, and the sea of downy pillows made it easier for me to get comfortable.

“I’ll see you there,” he promised. “Don’t stay up too late.”

I didn’t respond, instead I watched as he walked away. Sebastian came down the steps as Lucian walked up, but neither of them acknowledged the other’s presence.

My gaze stayed transfixed on Lucian as he vanished from my line of sight, when I looked back down, Sebastian was inches away from joining me on the couch.

Missionary here I come.

The piercings in his nipples and belly button glinted in the light as he lifted my feet and settled under them.

“What are you reading, Princess?”

I was so distracted by Sebastian’slackof shirt that I’d almost forgotten I had a book on my chest. Heat flooded my cheeks as Sebastian pointed to what was essentially seven hundred pages ofgloriousvampire alien smut.

“Beneath Alien Shadows,” I said, hoping he wouldn’t ask for more information than that.

He smirked and extended a hand. “Why don’t you relax and let me read it to you?”

My eyes practically bugged out of my head as I tightened my grip on the novel. If I told him no, he’d ask why. Either way was going to end in him knowing I was sitting in the living room with literarypornography, so instead of forcing myself to verbally explain why I’d prefer he didn’t, I handed him the book.

Sebastian took my bookmark out and rested it on the end table as he pushed up his glasses and spread the pages.

“Gloria’s back met the wall as D-Draukox?” Sebastian looked to me for approval of his pronunciation, and I nodded. “Draukox stalked toward her. The blue marbling under his alabaster skin illuminated, causing him to glow with an otherworldly radiance that was both terrifying and arousing. For weeks, Gloria had been a prisoner on his ship. She was a lone soul on an alien vessel. She was starved and filthy, but determined to remain unbroken.”

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